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Because I value the time Christ has given me, I choose to use my time wisely.

How To Use My Time Wisely

Aesthetics

God took time to make things beautiful. His design and artwork is seen in all His creation.

Definition

Aesthetic means: Beauty, the appreciation of the beautiful, responsive to the beauty of nature. Taking pictures that look good. Seeing how the colors or shapes in nature fit together pleasantly. Enjoying seeing the beauty in nature and learning what makes things look good. Learning from the beauty in nature what God is like and trying to do as He has done in creating beauty. Beautiful things give us pleasure. That is why God made it that way, to bring us joy. We should be like God and look for ways to bring pleasure to others and ourselves by making things beautiful. Arranging our house to look attractive by the way we do our garden, arrange our furniture, and choose the curtains, bed covers and clothes we wear. We can be aesthetic in how we do our school work by making our projects look nice. We can learn principles of art and beauty which will make us enjoy these things even more. God went to a great deal of planning and "work" to make our world and universe wonderful in its design and beauty. He put things together in such a way that they not only function well but have beauty in their design elements.

See flipchart

For the Beauty of the Earth, SDAH, 565
All things Bright and Beautiful, SDAH, 93

Student Life Applications

Because God's creation is full of beauty I know He wants me to enjoy beautiful things, therefore I will:

Learn to recognize what makes things look beautiful.

Bible, E.G. White

Job 40:10 array thyself with glory and beauty.
Psalm 50:2 out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in his time
Isaiah 33:17 Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty.

"God is a lover of beauty. . ." AH 27
"Do something everyday to beautify your life." MH 491

Reinforcing Stories

"The Fountain of Beauty", page 154, Volume One, Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, by Arthur S. Maxwell, Review and Herald Publishing Association
"Beautiful Things", page 184, Volume Three, Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, by Arthur S. Maxwell, Review and Herald Publishing Association

Student Activities

Links to the Curriculum

Resources

Primary:
Tell or write two ways that show that God appreciates aesthetics.
Tell or write about a time when you saw someone show appreciation for aesthetics.
Tell or write about when you enjoyed something beautiful the way perhaps that God would.
How do you think God feels when He sees people who enjoy beauty?
Finish the sentence: We can feel aesthetical when we..........

Middle:
Why does God care if I appreciate beauty?
What difference does it make whether I appreciate beauty or not?
What effect would it have on my future if I did not choose to appreciate beauty?
How would people treat me differently if I did or didn’t choose to be appreciate beauty?
How would I feel about myself if I did or did not choose to appreciate beauty?
Give some reasons why you think it is best to appreciate beauty. Why would someone do differently?
What makes choosing to appreciate beauty better than the opposite?
List some ways that a person might appreciate beauty without anyone noticing?
List 3 situations where a person could appreciate beauty in his work, home, or at the shopping mall.
Is it possible for a person to get better at appreciating beauty? Explain.
Can you think of someone who seems good at appreciating beauty? What makes them better at it?
How could you learn to be better at appreciating beauty?
How often do you appreciate beauty? Think of the last three times and tell me.
Do you like to join in when people appreciate beauty? How have you joined in?

High school:
Would you appreciate beauty if no one was checking on you? Your parents, school, or the law?
What is the alternative to appreciating beauty and what do you see as the results of that choice?
Would you recognize it if someone did not fully appreciate beauty? How?
Would you keep quiet if someone paid you a lot of money not to appreciate beauty?
Are you proud to appreciate beauty and willing to tell others how you feel?
If someone in a group spoke out against aesthetics would you speak up to give the other side?
Are you willing to put some money toward supporting aesthetics in your city, class, work?
Can you say that appreciating beauty has become a habit? How often are you that way?
What effect do you think aesthetics will have practicing punctuality on your future life?
Do you see your family appreciating beauty? How about your church, city, or nation?
What do you think should be done to promote aesthetics in your family, friends, church, city, nation?
Does it make much difference if they appreciate beauty or not?